Lucy Evans

Every Monday we will be bringing you an unsigned singer or band as part of our Independent Music Monday feature. This week, we caught up with Lucy Evans find out more about her…

Where are you from and how did you first get into music?I'm from Leicester (having moved at a young age after being born in Forest Gate). I always loved singing as a kid. And my parents were BIG music fans. I got obsessed with the Beatles in my teens and so picked up a guitar and taught myself the basics, then immediately started a band so I could play all the new 3-chord songs I'd written!

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?Growing up: The Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder (thanks mum!) and then Muse, Foo Fighters and Alanis Morissette (thanks high school!).Now: Still the above but listen to two Lauras A LOT. Laura Marling and Laura Mvula. Everyone should listen to them as much as I do. Brilliant women.

How would you describe your sound?I often tend to answer this question with 'folky' or something like that. But really it depends on the song, recording, or performance. Generally, I want to be honest and for people to hear that in my voice. And I want my songs to be melodic and take people on their own journey too.

What is your latest single called and what was the influence behind it?My latest is called 'Stars'. It was actually written a little while back but recorded recently. It's me becoming an adult, reflecting on when, or even if we lose some childlike sense of adventure. In the recent recording we tried to make it dreamy before the big outro - it's not a long song but it's quite unusual in it's structure. Do give it a listen!

What’s your local music scene like?It's great. I live in East London and there's always something to hear and see. Whether at a small festival or a bigger venue, there's loads of choice. And in terms of gigging myself I've played most recently in tiny packed cafes in Walthamstow and outside the beautiful St Peter's de Beauvoir. London's often good at using it's spaces really creatively. It has to be I suppose!

What do you have planned for the next 12 months? Any albums or festivals?Well, music might actually have to take a back seat for a while as I'm about to have a baby! I'll be singing to the little one though, for sure.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?I want to write and record an album with Night Beds. That's like their first LP. Please. Pretty please.

Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?Remember doing some jazz stuff (bad move) at one gig and my keyboard player (ahem, my husband Mike) didn't want to play in E flat minor or some key that made him use the black notes so used the transpose button on his keyboard. Then forgot to turn it off for the next song. Which was less jazz, more an unpredictable experiment in falsetto. Got through it though and people clapped. Ha! Likely out of sympathy!

What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?That I genuinely love to sing. And I hope you enjoy listening.